Source::AP news
The 9-foot (2.7-meter) tall bronze statue in Greenwood’s Rail Spike Park is a jaunty depiction of the living Till in slacks, a dress shirt, and a tie with one hand on the brim of a hat. The rhythm and blues song, “Wake Up, Everybody” played as workers pulled a tarp off the figure. Dozens of people surged forward, shooting photos and videos on cell phones.
The statue’s unveiling coincided with the release this month of ‘Till’, a movie exploring Till Mobley’s private trauma over her son’s death and her transformation into a civil rights activist.
Greenwood and Leflore County are both more than 70% Black and officials have worked for years to bring the Till statue to reality. Democratic state Sen. David Jordan of Greenwood secured $150,000 in state funding and a Utah artist, Matt Glenn, was commissioned to create the statue.
A historical marker outside Bryant’s Grocery has been knocked down and vandalized. Another marker near where Till’s body was pulled from the Tallahatchie River has been vandalized and shot. The Till statue in Greenwood will be watched by security cameras.
“Change has come, and it will continue to happen. Decades ago, our parents and grandparents could not envision that a moment like today would transpire.” Said Madison Harper, a senior at Leflore County High School.
“Mississippi has the highest percentage of Black residents of any state, now about 38%. Mississippi had no Black elected officials when Till was killed. Till’s death helped spur change.” said Democratic U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, whose district encompasses the Delta.
“But you, know, change has a way of becoming slower and slower. What we have to do in dedicating this monument to Emmett Till is recommit ourselves to the spirit of making a difference in our community.” He added._AP news
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